{"id":56196,"date":"2023-01-04T16:14:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T21:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=56196"},"modified":"2025-10-06T09:22:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T13:22:07","slug":"cephalexin-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cephalexin-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Cephalexin alternatives: What can I take instead of cephalexin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cephalexin<\/span><\/a> is a broad spectrum first generation cephalosporin antibiotic. The generic name for this medication is cephalexin, and the brand name is Keflex. It is administered by mouth and available in tablets, capsules, or oral suspension. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the use of cephalexin for the management of a variety of bacterial infections. Such infections include skin infections, <\/span>kidney infections<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>ear infections<\/span><\/a>, soft tissue infections, upper respiratory infections, and bone infections. Cephalexin is approved for use in both adults and children as young as 1 month. The antibiotic should not be used if there is a known allergy to other <\/span>cephalosporins<\/span><\/a> or a penicillin allergy. It is safe for prescribing to those who may be pregnant and breastfeeding. Both adults and pediatric patients can also take cephalexin.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Although cephalexin has many indications for use against infectious diseases, there are some <\/span>side effects<\/span> associated with the use of this antibiotic. Life-threatening reactions seen with use of cephalexin include hypersensitivity reaction, anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, <\/span>anemia<\/span><\/a>, nephritis, low red\/white blood cells and platelets, low neutrophils in the blood, jaundice, and C. difficile-associated diarrhea. More common and less serious side effects seen are <\/span>diarrhea<\/span><\/a>, nausea, vomiting, recurring indigestion, gastritis, and abdominal pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Antibiotics 101: What are they and why do we need them?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of cephalexin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Not all medications work for everyone. Luckily there are several different antibiotic options available to treat bacterial infections if <\/span>cephalexin<\/span><\/a> does not provide the results desired or if unwanted side effects occur with use of this medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare cephalexin alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Keflex<\/span><\/p>\n

(cephalexin)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Streptococcal pharyngitis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
1,000-4,000 mg per day by mouth divided every 6-12 hours<\/span><\/td>\nKeflex coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amoxil, Moxatag<\/span><\/p>\n

(amoxicillin)<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Streptococcal pharyngitis<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Otitis media<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Sinusitis, Helicobacter pylori infection Pneumonia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
1,000-4,000 mg per day by mouth divided every 8-12 hours<\/span><\/td>\nAmoxicillin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Augmentin<\/span><\/p>\n

(amoxicillin clavulanate)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Sinusitis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pneumonia<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
1,000-4,000 mg per day by mouth divided every 8-12 hours<\/span><\/td>\nAugmentin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ampi<\/span><\/p>\n

(ampicillin)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Endocarditis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Meningitis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Typhoid fever\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Group B Streptococcal prophylaxis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
14,000 mg maximum per day in injectable form divided every 4 hours<\/span><\/td>\nAmpicillin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Unasyn<\/span><\/p>\n

(ampicillin\/sulbactam)<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Intra-abdominal infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
12,000 mg maximum per day in injectable form divided every 6 hours<\/span><\/td>\nUnasyn coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zithromax<\/span><\/p>\n

(azithromycin)<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Tonsillitis, pharyngitis<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pneumonia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Chlamydia<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Gonorrhea\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Syphilis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
250-500 mg by mouth daily<\/span><\/td>\nZithromax coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cipro<\/span><\/p>\n

(ciprofloxacin)<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Intra-abdominal infections<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Bone\/joint infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Prostatitis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pneumonia<\/span><\/li>\n
  • \u00a0Anthrax<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Typhoid fever\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Plague<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
200-750 mg by mouth every 12 hours<\/span><\/p>\n

200-400 mg by injectable form every 12 hours<\/span><\/td>\n

Cipro coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vibramycin<\/span><\/p>\n

(doxycycline hyclate)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Mild, moderate, and severe bacterial infections<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Severe acne vulgaris<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rosacea inflammatory lesions<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Community-acquired pneumonia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Periodontitis<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Sinusitis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Chlamydia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Syphilis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Urethritis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Epididymitis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Proctitis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Anthrax\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Malaria prophylaxis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Tularemi\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Cholera<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Brucellosis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
For most conditions 100 mg capsule by mouth or intravenously twice a day<\/span><\/td>\nDoxycycline hyclate coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ery-Tab<\/span><\/p>\n

(erythromycin)<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Legionnaires disease\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rheumatic fever\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Intestinal amebiasis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Surgery prophylaxis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pertussis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pneumonia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Chlamydia<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
1,000-4,000 mg by mouth per day divided every 6-12 hours<\/span><\/td>\nErythromycin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Primaxin<\/span><\/p>\n

(imipenem\/cilastatin)<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pneumonia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Intra-abdominal infections<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
4,000 mg maximum per day in injectable form divided every 6 hours<\/span><\/td>\nPrimaxin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Levaquin<\/span><\/p>\n

(levofloxacin)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Skin infections<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Prostatitis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pneumonia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Anthrax\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Plague\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Bronchitis Sinusitis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
250-750 mg by mouth or injectable form once daily<\/span><\/td>\nLevofloxacin coupons\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Solodyn<\/span><\/p>\n

(minocycline)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Acne vulgaris\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Mycobacterium\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Marinum infection<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
For most conditions 100 mg capsule or tablet by mouth twice a day<\/span><\/td>\nMinocycline coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zosyn<\/span><\/p>\n

(piperacillin\/tazobactam)<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pneumonia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Gynecological infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Intra-abdominal infections<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
3.375-4.5 g by injectable form every 6 hours<\/span><\/td>\nZosyn coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bactrim<\/span><\/p>\n

(sulfamethoxazole\/trimethoprim)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pneumonia<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
160 mg of trimethoprim by mouth or injectable form every 12 hours<\/span><\/td>\nBactrim coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sumycin<\/span><\/p>\n

(tetracycline)<\/span><\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Bacterial infections: (ulcerative gingivitis, listeriosis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, bacterial urinary tract infections (UTI), choler, campylobacter-food poisoning, intestinal amebiasis, pneumonia, psittacosis, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, <\/span>skin and skin structure infections, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, lyme disease<\/span> )\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Acne vulgaris<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rosacea<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Syphilis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
For most conditions 125-250 mg capsule by mouth four times a day<\/span><\/p>\n

*Syphilis: 500 mg capsule by mouth four times a day<\/span><\/td>\n

Tetracycline coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to cephalexin<\/span><\/h3>\n